NYC Agent Michelle Griffith on the Power of Mentorship and the Necessity of Self-Care

By Grace Cassidy New York-based Douglas Elliman agent Michelle Griffith got her start in real estate over a decade ago after a successful career in medical sales and quickly became an award-winning broker. To date, she has over $1 billion in luxury sales, earning her well-deserved recognition by the Wall Street Journal , the Real Deal, and other publications. “I love being at Elliman,” she said. “I am blown away by the leadership team and the support and love and enthusiasm they have for their agents.” Michelle E. Griffith Griffith particularly enjoys working on new development and resale projects. “This is part of why I came to Elliman,” she said. “They have the best new development in the business, and I wanted an opportunity to learn from this team.” Right now, she is working as a resale broker for The Tower at Gramercy Square , where she represents a 4,731-square-foot condo with four bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms, an eat-in kitchen with high-end appliances, white marble, hardwood floors and access to world-class building amenities. “It’s a buyers’ market,” Griffith said of the current state of the real estate landscape. “There is very little inventory across all price points, so it’s challenging on both sides. However, as an agent, it’s our challenge to find opportunities for our clients.” She adds that sellers need to be strategic with pricing, while brokers need to work harder to promote their listings. “There will always be people that want to move to New York City and buy real estate, so I am always optimistic about the market,” she said. “However, buyers need to make smart choices.” Figuring out how to help clients make those choices is part of what sets a good real estate agent apart—but honing the necessary skills can’t be achieved without help from more experienced folks in the field. One of Griffith’s passions is working with new agents and mentoring them as they’re starting out in their careers. “It’s crucial to have a mentor, which can be in the form of a manager or an experienced agent who can help you,” she said. “Agents have an advantage at Elliman because they have the best managers. It’s important to have trusted colleagues where you can share market data and collaborate.” Griffith herself credits numerous people for mentoring her throughout her decade in real estate, including managers, a coach, and a group of colleagues with whom she would discuss pricing and marketing challenges. However, her commitment to self-care has been vital to building the resilience that keeps her going. “It’s easy to get overwhelmed and burnt out in this industry,” she said. “Having a mentor and a strong support system in this business is critical to your success. It’s equally important to take care of yourself, especially when you are in a career where we rarely take a day off or put our phone down.”